On behalf of the Club Officers and Members, we sincerely welcome you to our dynamic club.

Woodridge Rotary, Inc., a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, is committed to the mission of Rotary which is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through a fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders. We assist in developing community service projects that address many of today’s most critical issues, such as youth-at-risk, poverty and hunger, the environment, illiteracy, and violence. We also support programs for youth, educational opportunities, and international exchanges for students, teachers, and other professionals, and vocational and career development.

The Rotary motto is Service Above Self! It is our hope that you will support the Woodridge Rotary Club’s efforts to make a difference in the community and abroad to improve the quality of life for those in need.

Woodridge Rotary Club recently selected organizations to receive grants in 2016 based on proceeds from the 2015 Mini Triathlon.The following organizations were selected. Grants primarily go to non-profit organizations who provide services to Woodridge residents. A smaller portion of the awards goes to international humanitarian efforts. These financial grants do not include the athlete registration contribution from the mini tri. Those funds are distributed in the fall immediately after the mini tri event.

CASA of DuPage Close-Up Program

Community Adult Day Care Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Darien Rotary Club Engineers Without Borders

Family Shelter Services Hope's Front Door

Indian Boundary YMCA Live Like Mike Foundation

Michael J. Fox Foundation NAMI of DuPage

O'Brien School for the Maasai People's Resouce Center

SEASPAR Serenity House

WATTS for Love Woodridge Park District Golden Years

Woodridge Park District Woodridge Public Library

West Suburban Community Pantry

Cars wait in line for ELECTRONICS RECYCLING EVENT

Thank You to all who participated in our May 14, 2016 Recycling Extravaganza. Despite very cold and windy weather conditions, over 240 TVs (any many pounds of other items) were dropped off at the electronics station. 42 bicycles went to the Working Bikes Collective, and 76 American flags were taken for appropriate recycling by the VFW. Many more items were collected, but counts are not available yet.

The Rotary Club could not do this without the many volunteers who help us. We appreciate your efforts.

2016 Service Above Self Scholarship Award Winners Announced

Lena Zhu and Warren Dawes, both graduating high school seniors and Woodridge residents, were recently named as recipients of the Woodridge Club's "Service Above Self" scholarships. Zhu attended Naperville North High School and Dawes attended Montini Catholic High School. Each recipient received a $2000 grant to the college they will be attending in the fall.

Winners were selected on the basis of outstanding service to their communities above and beyond typical community service hours required in high school. The award winners and their families were recognized at the annual induction of officers dinner held by the Rotary Club on June 28.

Four Way Test Essay and Jefferson Junior High Citizenship Award Winners Named

2016 Four Way Test Essay winners (Kristen Almazan and Amaia Monjes) from St. Scholastica School are pictured on the left with Woodridge Rotary President Lee Robertson and Service Project Chair Magin (Mike) Martinez. Martinez is also pictured with the two 2016 recipients from Jefferson Junior High School (Sean Figuray and Isabella Oberg) who most represent (in the opinion of teachers at the school) the values of Rotary's Four Way Test in their interactions with other students and in their attitudes.

More information on the Four Way Test and these two awards will be found on this website under the tab labeled Service Projects.

Woodridge Rotary was formed in 1989 to support important community initiatives, particularly enhancing families and children. Since 1990, the Woodridge Rotary Club and the Woodridge Park District have partnered to provide families with economic hardship the financial assistance to participate in recreation programs.

“Our goal is to make sure that every young person has the opportunity to participate in recreation programs that fulfill their lives,” commented Kathleen Rush, Rotary Club President. “It is a tribute to our members and the Woodridge Park District that we have been able to sustain this effort for so long---and we have every intention to continue this program for many years to come,” she added.

“Our partnership with the Rotary Club has been very effective over these years. Hundreds of Woodridge families have benefitted from this program,” commented Mike Adams, Park District Executive Director. “It is not just the younger people in families who have benefited, either. This year the Rotary Club provided a grant to the Golden Years Senior Program of the Park District.”

Woodridge residents who need assistance to participate in Park District programs should contact the Park District at 630-353-3300 or visit www.woodridgeparks.org/ for more information.

The Rotary Club partners with many community organizations to further its goals. Funds are raised primarily through the Club’s annual Mini Triathlon which is slated for August 14, 2016. More information can be found at the Club website at www.woodridgerotary.org.

Woodridge Rotary Mini-Triathlon Event Named Recipient of Illinois Governor’s Home Town Award in 2013

According to Governor Pat Quinn, who announced the winners of the 31st Annual Governor’s Hometown Awards in 2013, “The Governor’s Home Town Awards honor the efforts of 22 remarkable groups who have selflessly dedicated their time and efforts to making their communities a better place to live. We applaud these groups of volunteers for improving the lives of others and truly making a difference in our state.”

The Governor’s Home Town Award recipients are selected by volunteer judges who review and rank applications based on a variety of factors, including local need, volunteer participation, use of resources and results achieved. The projects are judged within their population categories as well as within project categories. Project categories include services and mentorship, beautification and sustainability, parks and recreation, memorials and monuments and history and historic preservation. The judges then select one project from each population category to compete for the coveted Governor’s Cup.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) administers the Governor’s Home Town Awards Program. Each winning group receives a road sign for its community and plaque recognizing its efforts. The Governor’s Cup winner receives the traveling trophy and a unique road sign that proclaims its status as the overall winner.

"These awards celebrate the spirit of volunteerism in Illinois, "DCEO Director Adam Pollet said. "They show the connection between grass-roots activism and community improvements. When people unite behind a cause, they make a huge difference in the lives of their neighbors." These 22 winning projects represent the work of nearly 5,000 volunteers who devoted more than 90,000 hours of their time. Their volunteer service was estimated to be worth $2.1 million, and the groups raised neraly $1.8 million in donated funds, materials and services.

Attending the ceremony for the Woodridge Rotary Club were Mike Adams, Executive Director of the Woodridge Park District; Mayor Gina Cunningham; Village Manager Katy Rush; and Rich Moore, owner of Shanahan’s Pub in Woodridge. The Woodridge Rotary Club started its Mini Triathlon (Chicagoland's LARGEST Mini Tri) 16 years ago as a way to have fun and promote good health. The event has grown from 60 participants to more than 700 this past year. It is not only a major athletic event in the community, but it has become the major fundraiser for the Woodridge Rotary Club, which gives the proceeds back to non-profit organizations in the area. Volunteers provide almost all the work on the event.